Written Answers Wednesday 29 October 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been caught bringing alcohol into school in each local authority area in the last year.

Maureen Watt: This information requested is not available centrally.

Ambulance Service

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15924 by Shona Robison on 5 September 2008, how many of the air ambulance flights from Orkney were code red call outs, broken down by those undertaken by the (a) Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) fixed-wing aircraft, (b) SAS helicopter, (c) coastguard helicopter and (d) Ministry of Defence helicopter.

Shona Robison: Since April 2008, an agreed system of call categorisation (red, amber, green) has been in operation between the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) and clinicians in Orkney. The purpose of this is to ensure that a consistent approach is taken by all clinicians in Orkney and that there is a clear understanding of priority by the SAS. This system only applies to clinician requests for an air ambulance.

  The following table sets out the four calls from April 2008 to end September 2008 that were categorised as red by the notifying clinician.

  

 Date
 Island
 Aircraft


 7 April 2008
 Westray
 SAS Helicopter


 21 June 2008
 Flotta
 SAS Helicopter


 7 September 2008
 Westray
 SAS Helicopter


 20 September 2008
 Westray
 Coastguard (Sumburgh)

Central Heating Programme

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to reduce delays in the Warm Deal programme.

Stewart Maxwell: Warm Deal contributes to thousands of homes across Scotland being warm and more energy efficient with fuel bills reduced as a consequence. The Scottish Government aims to see these measures delivered as quickly as is practicable by the managing agent and to keep delays to a minimum.

  To this end, we meet regularly with the managing agent to ensure that progress is being achieved and that the requirements of the contract are being met.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16025 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, whether it will release the minute that confirms the First Minister’s approval in principle of the funding of the IslamFest.

Fergus Ewing: This document was published on 3 September 2008, and can be accessed through the following link http://www.scotlandagainstracism.com/onescotland/387.html .

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16022 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, whether it will list the individuals who were originally involved in the IslamFest proposal.

Fergus Ewing: The individuals who submitted the original IslamFest proposal to the previous administration were Osama Saeed, representing the Muslim Association of Britain and Salah Beltagui, representing the Muslim Council of Britain.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16022 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, how individuals were invited to be involved in the IslamFest proposal.

Fergus Ewing: The Muslim Council of Britain and the Muslim Association of Britain developed the initial proposal for IslamFest and were responsible for decisions on the involvement of other organisations or individuals during the period of the previous administration.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it received written confirmation of the establishment of the Scottish Islamic Foundation.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Islamic Foundation was constituted in January 2008 and formally launched in June 2008. Organisations do not routinely write to the Scottish Government to confirm they have been formally established.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16022 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, why partner organisations were not invited to be involved in the establishment of a group to take forward an IslamFest.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Islamic Foundation are co-ordinating the delivery of IslamFest and are responsible for decisions on the involvement of other organisations or individuals.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-16024 and S3W-16025 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, whether it considers that the First Minister routinely having sight of advice relating to significant issues is the same as the First Minister giving approval in principle to a funding application, subject to agreement by officials of a detailed proposal.

Fergus Ewing: The First Minister having sight of advice relating to significant issues and giving approval in principle to a funding application are distinct although not mutually exclusive.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15009 by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008, whether any minister or official has met with Mohammad Sawalha, President of the British Muslim Initiative, since May 2007.

Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the question S3W-15009 on 3 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15009 by Fergus Ewing on 14 July 2008, what the purpose was of the meeting between the Minister of Europe, External Affairs and Culture and the organisers of IslamExpo on 17 January 2008 and whether the Scottish Government will publish details of the agenda and papers discussed.

Fergus Ewing: This was a meeting to discuss the potential development of a Scottish-based IslamFest event. There was no formal agenda or papers tabled.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15009 by Fergus Ewing on 14 July 2008, whether IslamFest, to be organised by the Scottish Islamic Foundation, will be modelled on IslamExpo.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15009 by Fergus Ewing on 14 July 2008, what best practice lessons it has learnt from discussions with the organisers of IslamExpo.

Fergus Ewing: IslamFest is a specifically Scottish event which is being developed for Scottish communities. It is expected that the organisers will draw ideas from a range of sources.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister of Europe, External Affairs and Culture was invited to IslamExpo in July 2008.

Fergus Ewing: The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture was invited to IslamExpo in July 2008, but did not attend.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister of Europe, External Affairs and Culture attended IslamExpo in July 2008; whether she asked another minister to attend in her absence, and whether officials were sent to observe on her behalf.

Fergus Ewing: The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture did not ask another Minister to attend in her absence. One official from the Scottish Government attended the launch event for IslamExpo in July 2008.

Communities

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16055 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, how many of the projects referred to in the answer were funded through the Race, Religion and Refugee integration Fund, broken down by individual project and amount awarded.

Fergus Ewing: These projects were funded by the Equality Unit from allocations to the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration team.

Communities

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16055 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, how much funding it has awarded in each year between April 2008 and March 2011 to (a) Nil by Mouth, (b) Sense Over Sectarianism, (c) Football for All (specifically for the Kick-out Bigotry campaign) and (d) Youthlink Scotland.

Fergus Ewing: Current Scottish Government funding agreements will provide the following:

  

Financial Year
 Organisation


 Nil by Mouth
 Sense Over Sectarianism
Youth Link Scotland


 2008-09
£51,000
£112,500
£817,511


 2009-10
 
£150,000
£625,060


 2010-11
 
£150,000
 


 Total:
£51,000
£412,500
£1,442,631



  There is no current funding agreement with Football for All.

Communities

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle Islamophobia.

Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15005 on 3 September 2008 which details some of the initiatives which will help to tackle Islamophobia that are currently being funded by the Scottish Government. In addition educational resources are being developed for the Sectarianism: Don’t Give It, Don’t Take It online schools resource and we are working with groups representing Scottish Muslim communities to develop work in this area. Broader initiatives, such as that described in the answer to question S3W-16054 on 2 October 2008, which support multicultural community engagement and inter-faith dialogue will have a positive impact for all communities in Scotland, including the Muslim community.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Concessionary Travel

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes there have been in relation to the concessionary travel pass since 2006.

Stewart Stevenson: Changes have been made by this government to ease the application procedure for those suffering from epilepsy.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what direct funding was provided to Jordanhill School in Glasgow in each of the last five years.

Maureen Watt: The direct funding provided to Jordanhill School is set out in the following table:

  

 Grant (£000)
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Revenue Grant
£3,992
£4,317
£4,673
£4,847
£5,067


 Capital Grant
£200
£200
£200
£200
£200


 Total
£4,192
£4,517
£4,873
£5,047
£5,267



  Over the past three years the Scottish government has also provided £7,151,000 towards a major capital project involving a new teaching block, a refurbished and extended refectory and improved sports facilities at the school.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to Jordanhill School in Glasgow with regard to its admissions policy.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government funds Jordanhill School under the terms of the Jordanhill School Grant Regulations 1988, although responsibility for setting the admissions policy rests with the board of managers of the school. The Scottish Government has not issued guidance to the school on its admissions policy.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with Glasgow City Council the possibility of bringing Jordanhill School into the control of its education department.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has no plans to do so.

Education

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what surveillance of pupil injuries is carried out by schools.

Maureen Watt: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) state in their Education Information Sheet No 1 that some incidents that happen in schools, or during education activities out of school, must be reported to them under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). These Regulations require employers and other people to report accidents and some diseases that arise out of or in connection with work. The duty to notify and report rests with the "responsible person". In the case of schools this will be the local authority.

  The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

Education

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual cost is of educating a pupil in a mainstream school.

Maureen Watt: The average expenditure per pupil in primary and secondary education is published annually in Expenditure on School Education in Scotland and can be found on the government website using the following link:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/PubExpenditure.

Education

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual cost is of educating a pupil with additional support needs in a mainstream school.

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual cost is of educating a pupil with additional support needs in a special school.

Maureen Watt: This information is not collected centrally.

Electricity

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the present estimate is of peak electricity demand in Scotland that is being planned for in (a) five and (b) 10 years’ time.

Jim Mather: Predictions of future peak electricity demand are largely a matter for National Grid who operate the electricity transmission scheme across the UK. The Scottish Government are in regular contact with National Grid on a range of issues including discussions around future demand.

  In addition, research is being undertaken by the Scottish Government on projections of possible future electricity demand in Scotland. It is hoped that this information will be published shortly.

Environmental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase funding to local authorities for the employment of environmental health officers.

Shona Robison: As part of our concordat with COSLA, we are investing record levels of funding in local government and giving them more freedom and flexibility in how they allocate their funding. It is the responsibility of each local authority to decide the level of funding allocated for environmental health services, based on decisions on local needs and priorities, having fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments. When giving evidence to the Health and Sport Committee, COSLA stated that the introduction and enforcement of new sunbed provisions would be cost neutral.

Homecoming Scotland

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what has been done to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 in the United States of America.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland are working in close collaboration to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 (HS09). VisitScotland is committed to the effective marketing of Homecoming and the Homecoming theme now runs through VisitScotland’s entire marketing programme. Homecoming is integral to VisitScotland’s drive to promote Scotland domestically and internationally as a quality must see, must return destination.

  The US is a key market for Homecoming and activity to promote Homecoming has included:

  VisitScotland’s US database – now comprising some 200,000 tourism prospects – receiving monthly alerts on Homecoming;

  Homecoming was the central theme for Scotland Week this year;

  VisitScotland’s Scots Masters (US travel agents who sell Scotland) will represent Homecoming at around 15 of North America’s largest Highland Games, with a combined audience of over 1 million. Some of the individual games have an audience in excess of 250,000 Scottish and Highland Games enthusiasts;

  Ryder Cup activity in Louisville included announcements on Homecoming, and

  Whisky Press trip from US took place in September 2008.

  A major Homecoming multi-media campaign is to be launched in Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. The campaign will run across National Geographic’s many assets alongside an online campaign with VisitScotland’s best responding media such as the New York Times, Toronto Star and Melbourne Age.

  19% of ancestral tourists to Scotland come from the USA. Homecoming presents an enormous opportunity to tap into the market of people worldwide with Scots ancestry. A robust programme of marketing activity continues to promote www.ancestralscotland.com as the main signpost for users to find out all they need to know about starting their ancestral journey to Scotland. The website www.ancestralscotland.com is one of VisitScotland’s busiest websites.

  Changes to the US census rules now allows people to identify themselves as Scots (previously the category was Scots-Irish). In September VisitScotland used this information and launched its biggest ever US direct mail initiative. Almost 140,000 specific household addresses, profiled by Scots ethnicity and income, will received a Homecoming mailshot. VisitScotland’s partners in the direct mail initiative are the airlines Continental, US Airways and Globespan, and travel operators CIE, Trafalgar, Great Canadian Travel Company and Royal Scottish Tours.

Homecoming Scotland

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what has been done to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 in Australia.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland are working in close collaboration to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009. VisitScotland is committed to the effective marketing of Homecoming and the Homecoming theme now runs through VisitScotland’s entire marketing programme. Homecoming is integral to VisitScotland’s drive to promote Scotland domestically and internationally as a quality must see, must return destination.

  Australia is one of the four largest diaspora markets and is a key Homecoming audience. Activity taken to promote HS09 in Australia includes:

  Hosted TV crews from Australia’s Great Outdoors are covering Homecoming themes;

  Highland Games in Australia are being used to promote Homecoming;

  Whisky Live! Is a global programme and Homecoming, and

  Distribution of Homecoming promotional material at selected "Whisky Live!" event in Sydney ("Whisky Live!" is a global programme).

  A major Homecoming multi-media campaign is to be launched in Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. The campaign will run across National Geographic’s many assets alongside an online campaign with VisitScotland’s best responding media such as New York Times, Toronto Star and Melbourne Age.

  13% of ancestral tourists to Scotland come from Australia. Homecoming presents an enormous opportunity to tap into the market of people worldwide with Scots ancestry. A robust programme of marketing activity continues to promote www.ancestralscotland.com as the main signpost for users to find out all they need to know about starting their ancestral journey to Scotland. The website www.ancestralscotland.com is one of VisitScotland’s busiest websites.

Homelessness

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many indicators in single outcome agreements specifically refer to the needs of homeless applicants requiring support because of an alcohol dependency, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: Local authorities take a wide range of approaches in addressing the health and support needs of homeless households. As such, there will be a number of indicators which local authorities would see as contributing to the support needs of homeless people with alcohol dependency. Each local authority single outcome agreement is published and available on the Improvement Service Website www.improvementservice.org.uk .

Housing

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will agree to Fife Council’s proposals to reduce the number of homes planned to be built in Fife by 4,270.

Stewart Stevenson: In line with our public announcement in August on progress with the Fife Structure Plan, a decision has not yet been reached, as Scottish Government is considering draft modifications, and progressing the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of their environmental effects, with a view to publishing the proposed modifications and the SEA Environmental Report for public consultation later this autumn. For that reason it is not yet possible to comment on Fife Council’s proposals to reduce the number of homes.

Individual Learning Accounts

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether individual learning accounts are available for 16 to 18-year-olds.

Fiona Hyslop: Yes, the Scottish Government has now extended the use of individual learning accounts so that they are now available for all eligible adults aged 16 and over. Individual learning accounts were not available to 16 to 18-year-olds under the previous Scottish Executive.

Justice

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the provision of residential units for ex-offenders.

Kenny MacAskill: The vast majority of ex-offenders are accommodated within mainstream housing services. However, a small number require additional support in their accommodation to promote their rehabilitation and allow any potential risks to community safety to be reduced. There are a number of options for provision of additional support, including supported tenancies and residential hostel accommodation.

  Annual grant of approximately £3.925 million per year is provided by the Scottish Government to Community Justice Authorities under section 27(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for supported accommodation for offenders.

Justice

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the residential unit at St Fitticks House in Aberdeen provides a useful model for assisting in the rehabilitation of ex-offenders.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government acknowledges the importance of suitable accommodation as one of the key factors that can reduce the likelihood of an individual re-offending. We are working closely with COSLA to ensure that at national and local level agencies work together to enhance services for offenders, including their ability to access and sustain appropriate accommodation. In some cases they will require not just a tenancy, but additional support to sustain it.

  There are a range of ways to provide additional support in accommodation, including residential units like St Fittick’s House and supported tenancies. Decisions on the appropriate range of service provision in a local authority area are for the local authority concerned, working with the relevant Community Justice Authority. Annual grant of approximately £3.925 million per year is provided by the Scottish Government to Community Justice Authorities under section 27(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for supported accommodation for offenders.

Justice

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed or plans to assess the effectiveness of residential units in assisting in the rehabilitation of ex-offenders.

Kenny MacAskill: The National Strategy for the Management of Offenders required the Community Justice Authorities (CJAs) to carry out an audit of existing criminal justice supported accommodation within their individual areas.

  The eight CJAs have completed their audits and are working with their local partners to address the key issues raised. The Scottish Government is also studying the individual reports to see whether any common themes have emerged across CJAs and to consider what additional work, if any, needs to be done.

Justice

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that adequate equipment, software and training are in place to facilitate the speedy and efficient sharing of CCTV footage between police and courts without loss of picture quality.

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that there are standards in place to facilitate the speedy and efficient sharing of CCTV footage between police and public and private bodies that operate CCTV.

Kenny MacAskill: We believe that public space CCTV systems can play an important role in the prevention, detection and prosecution of crime. Local authority operated CCTV systems are nearly all linked to local police force operations, and in some areas there are information sharing protocol agreements already established for the sharing of footage and information.

  Businesses and organisations are required to operate CCTV systems within the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and Information Commissioner’s code of practice. We are currently concluding a strategic review of public space CCTV in Scotland, which is intended to clarify its specific role. The report is expected in November. In addition to profiling what public space CCTV infrastructure exists in Scotland, the report will cover strategic issues on its purpose and use; changing technology and data management, plus consideration of the published evidence that exists regarding the evaluation and impacts of public space CCTV. I plan to share the output of the strategic review with key stakeholders early in 2009, and then consider what actions to take in light of its findings.

Justice

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage betting shops and other organisations whose staff face the risk of assault to put in place adequate equipment, software and training to facilitate the speedy and efficient sharing with the police of CCTV footage of evidential quality.

Kenny MacAskill: We believe that public space CCTV systems can play an important role in the prevention, detection and prosecution of crime. Local authority operated CCTV systems are nearly all linked to local police force operations, and in some areas there are information sharing protocol agreements already established for the sharing of footage and information.

  The Licensing Conditions (Late Opening Premises) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 require certain late opening premises to have a CCTV system installed on the premises to the satisfaction of the appropriate chief constable and must be kept in good working order. This measure takes effect from 1 September 2009 and is intended to apply to premises such as nightclubs and super-pubs. Local licensing boards can also require CCTV as a condition of a licence for any other licensed premises.

  Businesses and organisations are required to operate CCTV systems within the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and Information Commissioner’s code of practice. We are currently concluding a strategic review of public space CCTV in Scotland, which is intended to clarify its specific role. The report is expected in November. In addition to profiling what public space CCTV infrastructure exists in Scotland, the report will cover strategic issues on its purpose and use; changing technology and data management, plus consideration of the published evidence that exists regarding the evaluation and impacts of public space CCTV. I plan to share the output of the strategic review with key stakeholders early in 2009, and then consider what actions to take in light of its findings.

Medical Research

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its total expenditure was on medical research in each of the last five years and what information it has on how this compares with the UK Government’s expenditure in the same period.

Shona Robison: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), of the Scottish Government’s Health Directorates, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The main agency through which the UK Government funds medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The Department of Health in England (DH) is the equivalent funder of research to the CSO. However, the ambit of its responsibilities is greater because it also exercises functions reserved to Westminster on a UK-wide basis.

  In each of the last five years expenditure by the CSO, the MRC and DH on medical research was as follows:

  

 
 CSO
 MRC
 DH


 2003-04
£47.4 million
£428.9 million
£533 million


 2004-05
£50.6 million
£447.8 million
£601 million


 2005-06
£51.7 million
£514.6 million
£617 million


 2006-07
£59.3 million
£573.7 million
£659 million


 2007-08
£58.3 million
£618.5 million
£730 million

Medical Research

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its total expenditure was on medical research in the field of neurosciences and mental health in each of the last five years and what information it has on how this compares with the UK Government’s expenditure in the same period.

Shona Robison: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), of the Scottish Government’s Health Directorates, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The main agency through which the UK Government funds medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC).

  For the purposes of this reply, neuroscience is defined as the study of the nervous system including the brain, the spinal cord and networks of sensory nerve cells or neurons. It includes Alzheimer’s disease, dementias, Parkinson’s disease, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. It does not include mental health or stroke management research. In each of the last five years direct expenditure by the CSO on neuroscience research was as follows:

  

 2003-04
£183,500


 2004-05
£451,900


 2005-06
£670,000


 2006-07
£831,200


 2007-08
£878,300



  Direct expenditure figures for the MRC for neuroscience research are not available.

  Direct expenditure on mental health research was as follows:

  

 
 CSO
 MRC


 2003-04
£1.3 million
£68.6 million


 2004-05
£1.6 million
£76.1 million


 2005-06
£1.2 million
£108.1 million


 2006-07
£1.1 million
£108.7 million


 2007-08
£1.9 million
 Not Available



  In addition to direct research expenditure, the CSO also meets the additional direct costs to the NHS of hosting research funded by bodies such as the MRC and research charities. Such indirect expenditure on neuroscience and mental health is not held centrally.

Medical Research

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure was on medical research into the causes and methods of diagnosis or treatment of (a) autism or Asperger’s syndrome, (b) dyspraxia or developmental co-ordination disorder, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) Tourette’s syndrome, (e) dyslexia, (f) deficit in attention, motor control and perception and (g) any other recognised learning difficulties or learning disabilities in each of the last five years.

Shona Robison: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), of the Scottish Government’s Health Directorates, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The main agency through which the UK Government funds medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC).

  Total direct expenditure by the CSO and the MRC on (a) autism or Asperger’s syndrome research in each of the last five years was as follows:

  

 
 CSO
 MRC


 2003-04
£43,700
£1.2 million


 2004-05
£201,000
£1.0 million


 2005-06
£133,500
£1.1 million


 2006-07
£143,700
£1.7 million


 2007-08
£139,800
£2.3 million



  There was no direct expenditure by the CSO or the MRC on (b) dyspraxia research in the last five years.

  There was no direct expenditure by the CSO on (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) research in the last five years. Total direct expenditure by the MRC on ADHD research in each of the last five years was as follows:

  

 2003-04
£262,000


 2004-05
£480,000


 2005-06
£380,000


 2006-07
£594,000


 2007-08
£294,000



  There was no direct expenditure by the CSO or the MRC on (d) Tourette’s syndrome research in the last five years.

  Total direct expenditure by the CSO and the MRC on (e) dyslexia research in each of the last five years was as follows:-

  

 
 CSO
 MRC


 2003-04
£4,000
£296,000


 2004-05
£0
£296,000


 2005-06
£0
£434,000


 2006-07
£37,200
£377,000


 2007-08
£0
£330,000



  There was no direct expenditure by the CSO or the MRC on (f) deficit in attention, motor control and perception research in the last five years.

  Total direct expenditure by the CSO and the MRC on (g) other recognised learning difficulties or learning disabilities research including learning difficulties/disabilities more generally in the last five years was as follows:

  

 
 CSO
 MRC


 2003-04
£224,600
£1.5 million


 2004-05
£299,100
£1.5 million


 2005-06
£282,300
£1.9 million


 2006-07
£91,200
£2.1 million


 2007-08
£15,200
£2.2 million



  Expenditure made by research charities on these conditions is not held centrally.

  In addition to direct research expenditure, the CSO also meets the additional indirect costs to the NHS of hosting research funded by bodies such as the MRC and research charities. Such indirect expenditure on these conditions is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many indicators in single outcome agreements specifically refer to the needs of homeless applicants requiring support because of a mental health issue, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: Local authorities take a wide range of approaches in addressing the health and support needs of homeless households. As such, there will be a number of indicators which local authorities would see as contributing to the support needs of homeless people with mental ill health. Each local authority single outcome agreement is published and available on the Improvement Service Website www.improvementservice.org.uk .

Ministerial Correspondence

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will reply to my letter dated 7 August 2008 relating to procurement.

John Swinney: I replied on 16 October, with apologies for my delay in doing so.

People with Learning Difficulties

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people identified as having (a) autism or Asperger’s syndrome, (b) dyspraxia or developmental co-ordination disorder, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) Tourette’s syndrome, (e) dyslexia, (f) deficit in attention, motor control and perception and (g) any other recognised learning difficulties or learning disabilities are recorded as not in education, employment or training.

Fiona Hyslop: Data on the economic status of people having the conditions listed are not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16964 on 29 October 2008, for data relating to people reporting that they have learning difficulties. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

People with Learning Difficulties

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people identified as having (a) autism or Asperger’s syndrome, (b) dyspraxia or developmental co-ordination disorder, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) Tourette’s syndrome, (e) dyslexia, (f) deficit in attention, motor control and perception and (g) any other recognised learning difficulties or learning disabilities are recorded as unemployed.

Fiona Hyslop: Data on the economic status of people having the conditions listed are not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16965 on 29 October 2008, for data relating to people reporting that they have learning difficulties. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

People with Learning Difficulties

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people identified as having learning difficulties are recorded as not in education, employment or training.

Fiona Hyslop: The Annual Population Survey (APS) conducted by the Office for National Statistics collects information on the economic status of individuals. Respondents to the survey are also asked for details of health problems they may have which limit the kind of paid work they could do. In 2007, 65.1 per cent of people of working age reporting severe or specific learning difficulties were not in education, employment or training.

People with Learning Difficulties

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people identified as having learning difficulties are recorded as being unemployed.

Fiona Hyslop: The Annual Population Survey (APS) conducted by the Office for National Statistics collects information on the economic status of individuals. Respondents to the survey are also asked for details of health problems they may have which limit the kind of paid work they could do. In 2007, 10.6 per cent of people of working age reporting severe or specific learning difficulties were unemployed and actively seeking work.

School Meals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school pupils has benefited from the extension of the free school meals scheme.

Adam Ingram: As yet there has been no extension to the free school meals scheme. There are two commitments in the concordat about extending entitlement to free school meals:

  To extend entitlement to free school meals to all primary school and secondary school pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit from August 2009, subject to the necessary legislation being passed. This will benefit approximately 44,000 pupils.

  Local authorities will provide free school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils from August 2010, subject to the necessary legislation being passed. This will benefit approximately 118,000 pupils.

  Scottish Parliament support for legislation to enable these extensions to the free school meals scheme will be required.

School Meals

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of additional funding will be provided to North Lanarkshire Council for the provision of free school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils.

Adam Ingram: The additional funding to enable North Lanarkshire Council to provide free school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils from August 2010 has already been provided in the local government settlement provided to North Lanarkshire Council.

  I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16730 on 16 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

School Meals

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost to Aberdeen City Council of providing free school meals for all P1 to P3 pupils.

Adam Ingram: The additional funding to enable Aberdeen City Council to provide free nutritious school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils from August 2010 has already been provided in the local government finance settlement provided to the council covering the period from 2008-11.

  I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16730 on 16 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

School Meals

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding revenue and capital costs associated with the introduction of free school meals for all P1 to P3 pupils.

Adam Ingram: We have not had any discussions with Aberdeen City Council regarding revenue and capital costs associated with the introduction of free school meals for all P1 to P3 pupils. Under the concordat agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA sufficient funding is included in the local government settlement to enable all local authorities to provide P1 to P3 pupils with free school meals from August 2010.

School Meals

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a revenue allocation has been made to Aberdeen City Council for 2010-11 for the provision of free school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an allocation has been made for 2009-10 or 2010-11 for the capital to meet the costs of providing free school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils and, if so, how much has been allocated.

Adam Ingram: Yes, the additional funding to enable Aberdeen City Council to provide free nutritious school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils from August 2010 has already been provided in the local government finance settlement provided to the council covering the period from 2008-11.

  I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16730 on 16 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

School Meals

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its estimate of the revenue and capital costs to Aberdeen City Council of providing free school meals for all P1 to P3 pupils.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16730 on 16 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

School Meals

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it anticipates the implementation of free school meals provision for pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child and working tax credits will cost the (a) Highland, (b) Moray, (c) Argyll and Bute, (d) Shetland, (e) Western Isles and (f) Orkney councils for a financial year.

Adam Ingram: In our concordat with COSLA there is a jointly agreed commitment to extend entitlement to free school meals to all primary school and secondary school pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit from August 2009, subject to the necessary legislation being passed by the Scottish Parliament. The local government settlement for this period includes funding for this commitment. COSLA recognises that the new relationship around the local government settlement means that the local government funding is negotiated as a whole and it includes funding for free school meals which we trust COSLA to deliver on this commitment.

School Meals

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of implementing free school meals for pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child and working tax credits is contained in its concordat with local authorities.

Adam Ingram: Yes. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16916 on 29 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

School Meals

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has made available to (a) Highland, (b) Moray, (c) Argyll and Bute, (d) Shetland, (e) Western Isles and (f) Orkney councils to enable pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of maximum child and working tax credits to receive free school meals from August 2009.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16916 on 29 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

School Meals

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund local authorities separately for the costs of providing free school meals for pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child and working tax credits if it has not funded them via its concordat.

Adam Ingram: They have been funded in the local government settlement and I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16916 on 29 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Scottish Government

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any appointments equivalent to parliamentary private secretaries in the UK Parliament have been made in the Scottish Parliament.

Bruce Crawford: Under the terms set out in paragraphs 4.6 to 4.11 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, the First Minister has appointed Parliamentary Liaison Officers (PLOs). Details of these appointments can be found in the answer to question S3W-11317 on 27 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The PLOs play a role in contributing to the effective communication of the government’s policy within the Parliament, although they are not members of the government.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether health workers qualified for free flu vaccinations prior to 2008.

Shona Robison: The Chief Professional Officers’ advice to NHS boards on the seasonal flu vaccination has recommended that local occupational health services offer the seasonal flu vaccination to staff since 2002. It is likely that some boards will have offered the vaccination to staff locally prior to this.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake was of the flu vaccination by health workers in 2007.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally, however a study carried out by the Scottish Executive in 2002 suggested that the level of vaccination uptake amongst health workers was around 20%.

Voluntary Sector

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received about the funding of organisations organising and promoting the recruitment of volunteers.

Jim Mather: We engage regularly with organisations concerned with volunteering, in the course of which funding is a normal topic. Most volunteering is a local activity and the focus on community planning partnerships we have agreed with local authorities offers opportunities for investment in volunteering at the local level.